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Woofer's avatar
Woofer
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014

a Solution for Handicapped RV Access

Hi
We are new to the RV lifestyle and thought we would share how we managed to make it happen. I installed a Travel Lift Chair and could not be happier. My daughter has Cerebral Palsy and we almost passed on getting a MH because we were not sure we could get her in it. We found a used Travel Lift Chair and took a chance. We purchased a 2003 Winnebago Brave 34D and the unit bolted in perfectly. The directions and pictures supplied by the manufacturer, mean it is a do it yourself job. Took about an hour of my time using a drill and screwdriver. Unit runs on 110VAC which has not been a problem. It does make a slight rattle on the road, but is not that noticeable. The best part is the Customer Service. The company is owned by Garlin Cheatham, and I am here to tell you he is the nicest guy I have ever done business with. Even though we purchased a used lift, his customer support has been way above and beyond anything I could have expected.. It is a safe buy and a great machine. The web site is not as fancy as other companies, but believe me the product works. It has freed our family to do some traveling and sightseeing. No more looking for handicapped rooms.
Travel Lift Chair URL: http://www.travelliftchair.com/
RV Lifestyle
  • Woofer's avatar
    Woofer
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    One more Modification we did (full disclosure). My daughter can crawl around the motorhome on her own. It gives her some freedom out of her wheelchair and she accepts it as her time to be herself. Showers were a challenge until I removed the sliding shower doors and went to an old fashion shower curtain setup. I made a plywood ramp covered with a spongy soft rubber mat. The ramp is supported by a "H-shaped" 1-1/4" PVC pipe affair I glued together. Stows under the bed between showers and allows her to zip in and out of the shower on her own. Hope someone finds all this useful for their family member.
  • Woofer's avatar
    Woofer
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    Hi Duck
    As to your post about buying them at any medical store. Beware buying them like that, they are not cheap and other brand models are too wide between the front wheels. Most hallways in RVs are 24". Some of these "transport chairs" are 22-23" wide which will not clear LP Gas Alarms that are usually mounted along floor baseboards. I have found the Invacare Transport chair is the narrowest, being only 21" wide between the front wheels. (widest point on most of these designs). I do not know how long this guy on eBay will be selling them for $89, but it is one heck of a deal.
  • Woofer's avatar
    Woofer
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    My Daughter is 46 and she is a lot tougher to do transfers than most. You retract the steps using a small magnet that comes with the lift and shut the stairs off to keep them in the retracted position with the door open. you then assemble the lift which is in 3-pieces. We run the transport chair up to the lift chair (it takes two people to get her on the lift chair). We pull her up standing and drop her in the chair. One person to pull the wheelchair out of the way and then hold lift chair steady while you drop her on it.
    We then run her up and manually swing the lift chair into the open doorway. Once the lift chair clears the outside stairs you can hit the switch to deploy the stairs. The second person can then enter the coach to help the person out of the lift chair. The lift does make some noise when operating. It noise level is about on par with a kitchen blender.
    We outfitted the chair with proper seat belts. The back of the chair has a rather low welded rod support section that may have to be modified based on your kids ability to sit up straight. If she is floppy then you have to consider having the back modified. Talk to Garlin when you order the chair, he will help you out. The chair lift is under $4,500 and the best part is you install it yourself. You need a cordless drill, pencil/paper, philips screwdriver, and measuring tape. and about two hours which includes 30-40 minutes of worrying if it is going to go in as easy as it the directions say it is.
  • Duck's avatar
    Duck
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    Woofer wrote:
    Another solution that works extremely well. If you have someone that needs a wheelchair and the size of the wheelchair limits your ability to access parts of your motorhome, consider getting one of these.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Invacare-Lightweight-Folding-Transport-Wheelchair-/350320834051
    The Invacare Lightweight Folding Transport Wheelchair can cost up to $300 and this Ebay site has a bunch of these for $90.
    It is 21" wide at the widest point (front wheels) which means it will fit down most RV hallways with room to miss floor level detectors and door jams. It is lightweight and will fit into most toilet areas. It folds into a compact package and can be easily stowed for travel. I got one for my daughter and it works great!


    I use one of these for my wife when we are out to dinner, doctor, etc. Only weights 15 pounds compared to a standard wheel chair that weights around 35 pounds. You can buy them at any medical supply store.
    Don
  • Woofer's avatar
    Woofer
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    see post below... it duplicated while I was editing it.
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    Woofer wrote:
    Hi
    We are new to the RV lifestyle and thought we would share how we managed to make it happen. I installed a Travel Lift Chair and could not be happier. My daughter has Cerebral Palsy and we almost passed on getting a MH because we were not sure we could get her in it. We found a used Travel Lift Chair and took a chance.

    We purchased a 2003 Winnebago Brave 34D and the unit bolted in perfectly. The directions and pictures supplied by the manufacturer, mean it is a do it yourself job. Took about an hour of my time using a drill and screwdriver. Unit runs on 110VAC which has not been a problem. It does make a slight rattle on the road, but is not that noticeable.

    The best part is the Customer Service. The company is owned by Garlin Cheatham, and I am here to tell you he is the nicest guy I have ever done business with. Even though we purchased a used lift, his customer support has been way above and beyond anything I could have expected..

    It is a safe buy and a great machine. The web site is not as fancy as other companies, but believe me the product works. It has freed our family to do some traveling and sightseeing. No more looking for handicapped rooms.


    Travel Lift Chair URL: Clicky


    I made the link clickable.

    Sounds like a good solution for several people. I have been looking for a RV chair lift for the past year or so. I have seen several RV's for sale in my local Craigslist - but out of my price range. It seems like it costs about $11,000 to install a van lift into a RV, with a large side door. That way we could load the 400 pound wheelchair along with my daughter. She needs to be reclined to prevent lung congestion, and that becomes a problem when out of her normal wheelchair.

    I have seen the door attached small chair lifts, and that would work well for many, who can still get from the chair lift to the floor or to another wheelchair, but my daughter is growing, and difficult to transfer. Her back problems prevent us from lifting her to much, and her weight is getting heavier in her teen years. It was easy to move her at 6, and only 40 pounds.. .

    Have fun camping!

    Fred.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    Woofer wrote:
    Another solution that works extremely well. If you have someone that needs a wheelchair and the size of the wheelchair limits your ability to access parts of your motorhome, consider getting one of these.


    Clicky
  • Woofer's avatar
    Woofer
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    Another solution that works extremely well. If you have someone that needs a wheelchair and the size of the wheelchair limits your ability to access parts of your motorhome, consider getting one of these.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Invacare-Lightweight-Folding-Transport-Wheelchair-/350320834051
    The Invacare Lightweight Folding Transport Wheelchair can cost up to $300 and this Ebay site has a bunch of these for $90.
    It is 21" wide at the widest point (front wheels) which means it will fit down most RV hallways with room to miss floor level detectors and door jams. It is lightweight and will fit into most toilet areas. It folds into a compact package and can be easily stowed for travel. I got one for my daughter and it works great!

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